My 16/8 / 18/6 fasting 80 pounds to lose journey

[TarasChoc]

I've just started this Woe last Monday and I'm very happy with how much more naturally this comes to me than anything else I've tried. I fell into it accidentally after starting The fast 800 a few weeks ago. I had a few things on and found the low carb and calories aspect hard to stick to but realised I was still in a decent deficit, eating less sugar and doing a 16/8 without finding it all too hard. I've now fallen into 18/6.
I am tracking calories, I'm only eating two meals and the occasional snack so I don't find calorie tracking hard.

I'm looking at losing 70 pounds so I'll be in this for the long haul. I'm currently doing a lot of research listening to Gin Stephen's podcast and reading Delay, don't Deny , The Obesity Code and Fast, Feast Repeat.
I've been weighing everyday to track the trends but my official weighin day will be Monday.

That's sounds like a great tweak @TarasChoc. Glad it is working for you.

Morning!
Love reading here, it's really interesting to see how you're all, well, listening to your bodies ( mother was right ! ), and adapting diets accordingly.
I got confirmation that my holiday is in 58 days, so yes, an incentive.
I'm starting Monday - a very big family event today - and tomorrow won't be good either.
I'll do 16 : 8 and keep it really simple.

Enjoy your family event @Amdone123 and good luck with starting on Monday. An upcoming holiday is a great thing to focus on. 😊

I struggle to get into low carb usually @Neeko but it's funny when I realised something needed to change it was easier to accept I needed to plough through the first week and not let those cravings and headaches get to me. I'm a couple of weeks in now and how I feel is unreal, so much energy, minimum hunger or cravings and sleeping really well. I started HRT on the same day so maybe it's a combination of both. I'm delighted how the HRT has already reduced my hot flushes a lot and I'm also a lot less achy.
How are you getting on since @Neeko? How's the weight training going, can you see any changes to your shape from it?
Have you had your holiday yet?

Good luck starting Monday @Amdone123 , holidays are a great incentive.

That all sounds great @TarasChoc. I have my HRT at home waiting to start. I got it last August after a delay from the initial appointment and was feeling so much better on the IF that I delayed starting. Still feel better now so waiting a while longer.
The holiday is great. Only a few days left and have decided to breakfast here on the last day and then do at least a 24 hour fast to reset things. I'll also step back in the scales that first moment home to see where I am at as I don't want to risk being in denial (learning from past experience with this). I expect it to take several weeks to drop the holiday gain though!
The weight training is going quite well I think. See a bit of definition in my arms and an improvement in my posture (which is dreadful). I commented to my husband today that I find it much easier to push up out of the pool so my arm strength must be better. I will need some heavier kettlebells soon. 😊

Delurking after reading this thread religiously over the past couple of weeks! So many helpful insights.

I started 16:8 about 6 weeks ago after an unpleasant surprise at a check-up where I was informed I was officially overweight (74 kilos). A combination of juggling work, DC and stressful house move over the past year saw me descend into constant grazing, late night snacking and sugary crap to give me an ‘energy boost’. First couple of weeks of fasting were tricky at times but have found it easier to adjust as time goes on. I tended not to eat until after the school run anyway so it hasn’t been a massive adjustment to delay eating until 10 or 11am. Big challenge for me is eating my last meal of the day at a reasonable time though. I’ve tried 6pm but it doesn’t really work due to late work finishes or running DC to activities and not being able to eat until 7pm/8pm.

Anyway, I am now at 69 kilos as of this morning so really pleased with my progress.

The big win for me is that this doesn’t feel like a diet at all. I’ve cut out most of the unnecessary crap but still allow myself occasional treats:) Holiday booked for the last two weeks of August so fully expecting things will be derailed!

@Eastie77Returns , that's great, well done. Keep going and don't worry about your holiday and potential weight gain yet. You never know - you might not put a lot on. I walk a lot on holiday but yeah, probably put a good 5lb on in a week.
I think you have the right approach and attitude - cutting out the unnecessary rubbish but still having the occasional treat.
I'm actually looking forward to my plan. Sometimes you just get to a point where you realise all the eating, and in my case, drinking, doesn't make you happy and feeling in control and healthier does !
@Neeko , enjoy the rest of your holiday. You'll be back on track soon enough.

@Amdone123 thank you. We are staying in a hotel for one week and then another week in a self catering lodge. The hotel serves breakfast until 10am and I think I will switch to 12 hour fasts so I can eat something in the morning before heading out. We will be doing a fair bit of stuff outdoors with a few very early starts (UK break with coastal walks, water based activities for the DC etc) and and not sure it will work for me to do 16:8 and fast until 11am. Fully expect to gain a bit but if I can keep on track until we go away in 4 weeks hopefully I’ll be in a good place.

Yes, I used to associate wine and my favourite junk food with “feeling good” when actually a lot of that stuff contributed to feeling unwell, bloated and out of control health wise. I still love a nice glass of wine and I’ll always enjoy a Five Guys burger when given the chance but definitely making better, more considered food choices now I’ve started fasting.

@Neeko well done on those results💪looking more defined is a great result but feeling the results in everyday life is the best.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday.
Remember when you do weight a few pounds will most likely be water weight from the flight, assuming you've flown.

@Eastie77Returns you've got off to a great start, well done!
I agree the biggest challenge can be getting our times to work. I tend to struggle when there's a change to my routine.

@Amdone123 I put at least 5lb on holidays too despite a lot of walking. My husband won't gain an ounce but then again he is coeliac so doesn't tuck into a carb laden breakfast!
What you've said about junk and wine really resonates with me.
I love a couple glasses of wine at the weekends but I've realised the longer I've been on this plan the more I've let weekends resemble what they used to be pre fasting.
One night of opening a bottle turned into two, two medium sized glasses turned into two very large and limited treats turned into whatever I fancied. Now this is OK for me occasionally but long term not only is it not healthy it's hampering my weight loss and how tired and sluggish Ifeel the next day is draining.
Dh and I realised opening a bottle of wine wasn't really a treat anymore at the weekends but more of the norm and would probably slip into having one during the week again, something we knocked on the head a good while back.
We've a lot of social events between now and Christmas so I've decided that I will only drink when I'm out unless I drive for the next while and if we do have wine at home the norm will be one night.
Anyway my big long point is I've identified wine and all the snacking it brings on as a big stumbling block to my weight loss. Like you I want to enjoy life so it will still be something I indulge in but as a treat!

Good luck everyone for the week ahead, let's keep reminding ourselves that as @Eastie77Returns says it doesn't feel like a diet.

Morning folks !
Weighed myself this morning - 13st 11. The heaviest I've been in a while, so today is the day.
I'm super motivated and posting here for accountability.
Yesterday I ate rubbish - slightly hungover - but all good.
I know what I want and I'm gunning for it !

Hi guys, planning to start 16:8. Do I have to do it every day?

@atthebottomofthehill , I try to do it every day. But find a way that suits you. I suppose some people are a bit more relaxed maybe at weekend. Someone wiser will be along !

@atthebottomofthehill yes ideally but if its something you struggle to do give yourself time to ease into it and adapt.
Have a read of Gin Stevens, Fast, Feast, Repeat to give you insight into how to get started and stay on track. Good luck!

I did my longest fast to date yesterday, well I think it's the longest I can only remember hitting 24 hours previously.
I fasted for 28 hours! I was going out for dinner and decided to wait to eat until then if it wasn't too hard. By the time it came to going out I think I could've gone straight through until today. Who knows though because I find it mentally challenging to think I wouldn't eat at all in a day.
For dinner I had cauliflower wings with a dip and dry hot and spicy chicken with salad. I'm still stuffed this morning and my weight is up a couple of pounds on the scales, there was probably more carbs in the meal than I've been having recently but it's not a real gain.
The best thing was that I enjoyed my meal, didn't feel deprived not having rice/chips or want dessert when everyone else was having some. I actually had been worried I would feel like my meal would be a big compromise.

@TarasChoc that food sounds delicious. I'm not really doing low carb. I try, but struggle.
28 hours, wow !
I'm going to try a 24 hour fast one day. I know I would benefit from it. Great result for you, too - not feeling deprived, as that's often the worst part. It helps to change one's mindset, I find.

I had a good day yesterday. I didn't eat til 1pm - cheese, mushroom omelette, sourdough bread, (it's supposed to be 10.30am but I was busy, walking / running). Then tea - small portion of lasagne and feta / strawberry salad, 5pm.

I had a banging headache all day.
I thought it was the not eating bit, but then got a sore throat and temperature. It's this stupid weather.
Drank 2 litres plus, walked 11k so all good.

Plan today ;

• walk 10k *drink 2 litres
• brunch and tea only

Have a great day, folks !

Hi all.
Got back from holidays last night and weighed this morning. I've gained just under 3lbs which I am delighted with as I know some of that will go as I get back to routine. I also had pudding with every meal but we ate loads of fruit and veg, drank loads of water and walked a lot. DH actually lost weight 🙄
I was going to do a 24hour plus fast from breakfast yesterday, but we have a family thing tonight with pizza and it would have meant more like 35 hours to go straight through which is too much for me, especially after not being in a fasting routine on holiday. I had fruit and yoghurt at 11 last night (after about 16 hours fasting) and will break my fast today with a salad before we go out. I genuinely feel it if I'm not having a variety of plant-based foods now. Holiday was so good for that!

@atthebottomofthehill I think it's best to fast every day for the first month or so until you are fat adapted. Then maybe an up and down routine would work best for you?

@TarasChoc that was a great fast and the meal sounds delicious. Probably the higher salt is contributing to the temporary gain.

@Amdone123 Sounds like you are doing great and making healthy choices. Hope you feel better soon.

Back to washing all the holiday clothes for me. It's amazing how much you create!

@Neeko , that's great, just under 3lb. It'll soon come off. I'm feeling better today thanks. Done my 10k walk, had brunch of mushrooms in philadelphia and 1 piece of sourdough bread. Yum.

Ooft. That sounds so tasty. Adding those to my shopping list!
Glad you are feeling better today.

Yay, this thread's come alive again! 🥰 Lovely to see some new people jumping in.

Sounds like everyone's having lovely holidays 😍 and fab result @Neeko only gaining 3lbs 👏🏻

We've had friends staying for a long weekend so loooots of socialising! But I've still got some good fasting in there - I'm not afraid to not join in when everyone else is eating breakfast - and so my weight has stayed steady 🥳

Can't wait to hear your one year fastiversary results @TarasChoc 🤩🤩

Hi @mumlikeaboss and thanks. It's very liberating to eat when you want, rather than when you think you "should" isn't it?
I'm sure you are enjoying the social side of things just as much too.

How's everyone doing ?
A good day here, although I have been hungrier than yesterday.
Brunch ✅
Tea - gammon, roast potatoes and salad ( was going to be broccoli but the sun came out 🤣).
I had some crisps earlier on and a bar of chocolate but that's OK for me.
I won't have anything now til after 10am tomorrow.

3 pounds is an excellent result @Neeko you must be very happy? Looking back do you feel pleased with how you managed on your holiday, is there anything you'd do differently or did you hit the right balance? It sounds to me like you did.
Hello @mumlikeaboss glad to hear you're doing well and enjoying your social life too. How's your health issues going for you?

@Amdone123 that sounds like a good day, you're getting into the swing of things.

Yesterday's fast was 18 hours the side effect of eating later the night before but still a decent fast. Today will be at least 23 hours as I only ate one meal yesterday. I'll eat two today though.
Have a good day everyone.

@TarasChoc still battling some stuff, waiting to hear from physio re back pain, etc... But thyroid is a little more steady now so don't feel quite so deathly!!! 😁 Thanks for asking 😘

I had only one meal yesterday too... Aiming for 20 hours then got lunch out with friends and probably have dinner as well today. Xx

@TarasChoc I probably ate a few times due to social conditioning and/or greed which I could have skipped but I'm not sure that's such a bad thing as it mixed everything up a bit. IF is a way of life now for sure, but I want to live and escape that diet mentality. It's hard when you go All Inclusive and you have been conditioned to get your money's worth! 15 hours into today's fast and feeling good so think I hit the balance okay. 😊

Is it a year this week since you started? I dabbled a year ago this week but didn't fully commit for another couple of weeks. I can't believe how much my attitude to eating/food/ body image and all that has changed in the past year. I wanted to lose 7lbs and lost 3x that plus I eat (and want to eat) such different things now. It's crazy!

@mumlikeaboss Glad to hear that the thyroid issues are improving.

@Amdone123 sounds like you are going well. I have a huge sweet tooth and have stopped fighting it. I have something sweet almost every day. Baklava was my favourite when on holiday. I'm not even a huge fan of honey but it was delicious!